Courtney Frei

Executive Director @Saddleback Recovery

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Saddleback Recovery provides a medically assisted detoxification, brief stabilization and clinical preparation. Our certified staff uses an integrative approach geared towards whole person recovery. Our structured clinical program provides a thorough introduction to recovery principles and prepares our residents for lasting sobriety. Our staff is compromised of Licensed Vocational Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians, Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and a Medical Director who is uniquely board certified in both Psychiatry and Family Medicine. We boast a 2:1 staff ratio for our 12-bed co-ed residence in order to provide safe, intelligent treatment.Saddleback Mental Health Program: What is Narrative Therapy?We use stories to inform others, connect over shared experiences, say when we feel wronged, and even to sort out our thoughts and feelings, Stories organize our thoughts, help us find meaning and purpose, and establish our identity in a confusing and sometimes lonely world. Thus, it is important to realize what stories we are telling ourselves, and others, when we talk about our lives.YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF YOUR OWN STORY.What Is Narrative Therapy?NARRATIVE THERAPY IS RESPECTFUL.This therapy respects the agency and dignity of every client. It requires each client to be treated as an individual who is not deficient, not defective, or “not enough” in any way.NARRATIVE THERAPY IS NON-BLAMINGNARRATIVE THERAPY VIEWS THE CLIENT AS THE EXPERT.In narrative therapy, the therapist does not occupy a higher social or academic space than the client. It is understood that the client is the expert in their own life.Our lives are storiedWe generate our identity through storiesPeople are not problemsProblems are to be externalizedProblems are to be deconstructedSocial Narrative and Social Stories are great ways for individuals to learn and connect with themselves others, and the community at large